David O. Russell film shooting at the Wang

The crew and A-list cast of the movie being shot here by director David O. Russell took over the Wang Theatre this week, spending two days filming a scene in the basement of the venerable Tremont Street building. We’re told actors Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, and Jennifer Lawrence were all in the Wang’s basement lounge, which was transformed into a smoky, 1970s-style casino for the movie. The film, as yet untitled, is loosely based on the FBI’s long-ago Abscam sting operation. We’re told the scene at the Wang included an altercation between the characters played by Cooper and Bale, who appears to have put on a lot of weight for the role. When Lawrence wasn’t busy in front of the camera, the Oscar winner was hanging out with her father, Gary, who’s an extra in the movie. Meanwhile, we’re told Robert De Niro has joined the cast. The 69-year-old actor, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” was apparently supposed to be in the casino scene, but had a scheduling conflict and will instead shoot here in May.